I was reading the Big Spring, TX newspaper online today and saw this headline:
Blessing of the Animals
"The Rev. Barbara Kirk-Norris, right, rector of St. Mary's Episcopal Church, blesses Mickey, while owner Julie Johnson watches. The church held its annual Blessing of the Animals Sunday in Bennett Garden to honor St. Frances Assisi. (HERALD photo/Lyndel Moody)"
Just to have a little fun... how many things can you find wrong with this? Leave your answers in the comment section please.
"The Christian says, "Creatures are not born with desires unless satisfaction for those desires exists. A baby feels hunger: well, there is such a thing as food. A duckling wants to swim: well, there is such a thing as water. Men feel sexual desire: well, there is such a thing as sex. If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world. If none of my earthly pleasures satisfy it, that does not mean that the universe is a fraud. Probably earthly pleasures were never meant to satisfy it, but only to arouse it, to suggest the real thing."
From the chapter Discipleship and Training:
I recently decided to pick up TNIV's The Books of the Bible and read it for my devotions. So far I have really enjoyed it. (I wouldn't encourage using the TNIV for serious study, but I think it's alright for devotionals.) What I like most about The Books of the Bible (TBB) is its format. All of the verse and chapter numbers have been removed (there is a very faint Scripture reference point at the bottom of each page to give the reader a general idea of where he/she is reading from). Nice. Also, sections of Scripture are broken up by a break, or change, in argument/thought. If it's a minor change in thought then there will be a single space between sections, all the way up to four spaces between the sections for major breaks in thought. Another nice feature is the ordering of the books. The OT is arranged in the Hebrew-esk fashion with the Law through Samuel-Kings at the beginning, the Prophets (in chronological order) next, and the Writings at the end (with Daniel being the last book of the OT). The NT begins with Luke-Acts and proceeds with Paul's letters (in chronological order), then on to a mixture of Matthew and Mark with Hebrews, 1 & 2 Peter, James and Jude, and then finishing with all of John's writings (i.e. John's Gospel, his three letters and Revelation). I think it's a great arrangement. The other great thing about TBB is that it combines 1 & 2 Samuel, 1 & 2 Kings, and 1& 2 Chronicles into one book each as they originally were. All-in-all I'm very pleased with TBB. It flows well and has a great arrangement. Go getcha one.
"The key to understanding the role of the family in discipling children is understanding the purpose of the Fifth Commandment. This commandment was not given for the sake of the individual child as much as it was given for the sake of the community. The Fifth Commandment was the foundation upon which the concept of multigenerational faithfulness is built. God designed the family to disciple children and insure the faithfulness and perpetuation of the community of faith throughout the ages. In other words, God says to us (through the Fifth Commandment), "If you want to continue to exist as the people of God in the midst of the pagan land that I am about to give you, you will have to do so by training and discipling your children." This is the linchpin in every argument I have made or will make in this book. God has designed your family--not the youth group, not the children's ministry, not the Christian school, but your family--as the principal discipling agent in your children's lives. The most important job you have as a parent is to train and disciple your children. This truth completely transformed the way Bridget and I viewed our role as parents. Suddenly we realized that if we raised our children to be great doctors, lawyers, athletes, or musicians but did not train them to honor us and obey God, we would have failed. Thus we had to rethink our schedule, our priorities, everything. In fact, this is one of the key truths that led us to home education. It was inconceivable to us that we could accomplish this monumental task without giving our children an education that completely embraced and undergirded this philosophy."
"When I first became a Christian, I thought that all Christians were sold-out, fire-breathing, truth-telling, water-walking follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. I also believed that I should be able to trust anything that was written by a Christian author and published by a Christian publisher. I soon discovered I was wrong. Most Christians in our culture live like everyone else. There is little distinction between our lives and the lives of the pagans down the street. We wear the same clothes, watch the same movies, read the same books, send our children to the same schools, and sign the same divorce decrees as everyone else. Furthermore, there ought to be a sign posted in every Christian bookstore that reads, "The views expressed in these books do not necessarily express the views of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." I'm not saying, don't read Christian books. I'm just saying, read with discernment."
"The notion which the phrase "penal substitution" expresses is that Jesus Christ our Lord, moved by a love that was determined to do everything necessary to save us, endured and exhaused the destructive divine judgment for which we were otherwise inescapably destined, and so won us forgiveness, adoption, and glory. To affirm penal substitution is to say that believers are in debt to Christ specifically for this, and that this is the mainspring of all their joy, peace, and praise both now and for eternity."
I have learned much (as elsewhere) from the master theologian, churchman, public figure, and normal Christian believer, Martin Luther. It is well-known that in his writings [and] in table conversation Luther would often refer to visits from the Devil, how the Devil would come to him and whisper in his ear, accusing him of all manner of filthy sin: “Martin, you are a liar, greedy, lecherous, a blasphemer, a hypocrite. You cannot stand before God.” To which Luther would respond: “Well, yes, I am. And, indeed, Satan, you do not know the half of it. I have done much worse than that and if you care to give me your full list, I can no doubt add to it and help make it more complete. But you know what? My Saviour has died for all my sins—those you mention, those I could add and, indeed, those I have committed but am so wicked that I am unaware of having done so. It does not change the fact that Christ has died for all of them; his blood is sufficient; and on the Day of Judgment I shall be exonerated because he has taken all my sins on himself and clothed me in his own perfect righteousness.”Luther knew what temptation looked like; he knew his own wickedness; but he also knew the all-surpassing perfection and grace of Christ. So, in closing, I want to thank my blog critics, the crass, the colourful, the profane, and the plain old crazy, for helping me to understand better my sin and my Saviour. You think I'm arrogant? You should talk to my wife: she could fill you in on just how arrogant I really am. You think I'm ruthless and cold? Believe me, you don't know where half of the bodies are buried. You think I'm a weak and spineless girlyman? Hey, you don't know nearly the extent of my cowardice. You think I'm an inveterate street fighter? Bring it on. If someone will hold my coat, why go out onto the street? We can finish this right here and right now. But you know what? My Saviour knows the full depth of all my sleaziness, my sin, and my moral insanity, and has covered by his blood all these crimes you allege against me. Indeed, he has covered many more and much worse; and your reminders of my sinfulness and my need of him are most
gratefully received.-Carl Trueman, quoted from Thank God for Bandit Country
I've read the book of John a few times, but for some reason I've never made the connection between John 3:1-21 and John 19:39, both of which refer to Nicodemus. In John chapter 3, John never tells us what happened to Nicodemus, but apparently the dude got saved. I just thought that was interesting.
I forgot to post that Amber is pregnant again and... it's a boy! This will bring the Nichols household to: two adults, two kids, and two dogs. Having a girl has been such a joy, but I must say that I'm a little nervous about having a boy. I think the reason for this is because my son's example of what it is to be a godly man is going to be me... that's intimidating. We'll see how it goes.
Okay, after talking with a very good friend of mine about this baptism of the Spirit thing, I have reached the conclusion (for now) that we are born of the Spirit at conversion and baptized/filled with the Spirit at some point after that (although Scripture seems to indicate that the baptism/filling could happen simulaneously with conversion). I think this view is consistent with Scripture which gives us the ultimate example of this in Christ, Who was born of the Spirit (literally) and later baptized/filled with the Spirit at His baptism. So far I am satisfied with this view and it would take a lot to convince me otherwise. But go ahead and let me know if this is heresy. Thanks.
My views on the baptism and filling of the Holy Spirit have been anything but consistent. I used to believe that the Baptism/Filling of the Holy Spirit happened only at conversion. I have also held to the belief that a person was baptized with the Spirit at conversion and then subsequently filled with the Holy Spirit at a later time for ministry. Currently I believe that Scripture uses the terms "Baptism" and "Filling" interchangeably in regards to the Holy Spirit (cf. Acts 1:5 and 2:4) and that after conversion believers must constantly pursue subsequent baptisms/fillings of the Holy Spirit (see Acts 4:29-31). For further reflection on this, check out the following:
1. John 7:39; 14:15-17; 20:22; Acts 1:5, 8; 2:4
2. Luke 3:21-22 (see also Mark 1:10 and Matthew 3:16)
3. Acts 4:29-31 (cf. Acts 13:52)
Any thoughts?
1 Peter 5:7-10 vs. 1 John 5:18
Read it. Pray about it. Let me know what you come up with.
Peace.
"The ultimate thing we can say about marriage is that it exists for God’s glory. That is, it exists to display God. Now we see how: Marriage is patterned after Christ’s covenant relationship to his redeemed people, the church. And therefore, the highest meaning and the most ultimate purpose of marriage is to put the covenant relationship of Christ and his church on display. That is why marriage exists. If you are married, that is why you are married. If you hope to be, that should be your dream."
-John Piper
quoted from This Momentary Marriage, p. 25
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